Creative Design: Undergraduate

Fabricating Change

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Abstract

The purpose of Fabricating Change is to convey the sense of entrapment experienced in addiction and the impact of heroin use on the wearer. It simulates the experience of using heroin, depicting the toll it takes both physically and mentally. This design incorporates features that symbolize the harmful effects of heroin, including belts wrapped tightly around the arms and along the skirt, representing the unbreakable grip of addiction and the user's loss of control. The center of the bodice is constricted by a corset tightened with a leather rope, illustrating the entrapment within addiction. Belts mimic the tourniquet used during injection, while steel beads and spikes on the sleeves and belts evoke imagery of needles. Red beads along the center of the arm symbolize the track marks left by repeated injections. These design elements educate viewers on the debilitating effects of heroin use and the importance of harm reduction strategies.

Keywords: heroin, harm reduction, fabric manipulation, embellishment

How to Cite:

McGuirk, T. & Staib, C., (2025) “Fabricating Change”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18496